A Critical Assessment of Psychological Theories of Ecstasy. Towards an Integrative Model for Theorising Ecstasy

• Authors: Moritz Deecke
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this article a number of approaches toward ecstasy or ecstatic spirit possession are explored that take a decisively non-sociological approach to the subject. They stress the importance of acknowledging ecstasy and related phenomena not as by-products of social struggle but as actual experiences that are events with meaning and importance in the biographies of those who experience them. Some of these are psychological theories (exemplified by Abraham Maslow), some are theological (Teresa of Ávila), and some stand in between (Martin Buber). These psycho-theological theories contribute to understanding ecstasy and have to be taken into account. Emphasised at the end of the article is the need to reconcile these views with the seemingly contradictory theories of ecstasy such as that of Lewis.

Keywords

EN

Martin Buber; Abraham Maslow; Teresa of Avila; ecstasy; trance; spirit-possession; integral theory; integrative model; psychology of religion

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Jagielloński
• Journal: Studia Religiologica
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 45–53

Dates

published

2013-06-20

Contributors

author

Moritz Deecke

• University of Leipzig, Germany

Identifiers

DOI

10.4467/20844077SR.13.004.1225